Rotary tiller



O. L. MEEKS ROTARY TILLER Nov. 3, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 INVENTOR @NOW Si QneeK/a,

o. l.. MEEKs 2,657,620

ROTARY TILLER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 3, 1953 Filed Jan. a, 1948 INVENTR. /.fafx/ Si 912744K@ BY draf-fawn' Y l l.. Ml-:EKS

ROTARY TILLER Nov. 3, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 O. L. MEEKS ROTARY TILLER Nov. 3, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 INVENTOR. O/.sww @u Qaeaa,

Arron'A/EY O. L. MEEKS ROTARY TILLER Nov. 3, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 :In rl.. ln. a. lilinnlin QW mmv INVENTOR.

O. L. MEEKS ROTARY TILLER Nov. 3, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 www f 1 1 1 1 l u m IIIHHW Q YT NVENTOR. O/.accw Y Qaao,

Arron/V y Nov. 3, 1953 o. L. MEEKs 2,657,620

ROTARY TILLER Filed Jan. 8,1948 v 7 sheets-sheet 7 IN1/EN TOR.

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Patented Nov. 3, 1953 ROTARY TILLER Oscar L. Meeks, Scranton, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Sperry Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 8, 1948, Serial No. 1,153y

Claims.

My invention relates broadly to .agricultural machineryv and more. particularly to an improved construction of a rotary tiller.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simplied construction of a rotary tiller which eliminates the use of gears, and yet which is very effective to cut up and mix the ground thoroughly throughout the full length of the rotor mechanism.

Another object of. my invention is to provide a construction. of a rotary tiller in which a ccmposite drive is employed from the power source to the rotor including a shaft, a V-belt system, and a chaindrive system.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of overload clutch for use in rotary tillers whereby sudden stoppage or overload of the rotor, Which might occur should the rotor encounter a stump or heavy stone obstruction, will offer minimum. injury to the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for a hydraulic lift for elevating the rotor of the rotary tiller from the ground.

Still another object vof my invention is to provide an improved construction of rotor for a rotary tiller in which the rotary tiller teeth may be manufactured inexpensively on a mass production scale and provide an effective means for cutting and grinding the ground thoroughly throughout the full length of the rotor.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved means for spacing the sections of the rotor on. the rotor shaft of the rotary tiller mechanism.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement of adjustable hood for coaction with the rotor of a rotary tiller.

Other and further objects reside in providing an improved mounting means for the movable parts of a rotary tiller and an improved drive system for a rotary tiller, as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following, by reference to the accompanying drawings in which.:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tractordriven rotary tiller embodying the principles of rny'inventicn; Y

Fig- 2 is a top plan viewv of the rotary tiller shown in Fig. 1';

Fig; 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the rotary tiller showing" the lhydraulic lift associated therewith andthe adjustable hood which coacts with the rotary tiller, the rotary tiller beingV shown in lowered position, for tilling operation;

Fig. 4. is a. view similar to the View illustrated in Fig. 3, but showing the rotary tiller in elevated position with the tiller raised out of tilling position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the rotary tiller shaft and illustrating the supporting members for the tiller teeth in section;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View of one of the tiller sections embodied in the rotary tiller of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on line Ill-I of Fig. 6; Y

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of one of the tiller sections, the spacing member associated with the tiller section being partially broken away and illustrated in section;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of `one form of the tiller teeth embodied in the structure of my invention;

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of another form of the tiller teeth embodied in the structure of my invention; Y

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially online |4-l 4 of Fig. 3';

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line |5-I 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 16V is a fragmentary elevational view showing the manner of associating the rotary tiller with the hydraulic lift mechanism; and

Fig. 17 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line iT-II of Fig. 16.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character i designates the chassis of a tractor drawn rotary tiller which is supported on wheels 2 and provided with a coupling means 3 for connection to a tractor. The chassis l supports a suitable prime mover, indicated at 4 as a gasoline engine, which is controlled through suitable lever controls 5 from the operators position. Fuel supply tank e is provided on chassis l. Engine 4 drives the main shaft I which carries a pulley 8 thereon which drives a multiplicity of V-belts 9 operating overthe pulley l0 mounted on countershaft Il journaled on chassis I. 'I'he pulley Il! is driven by the V-belts 9 operating over the power driven pulley'. The V-belts 9 are suitably protected and guarded by guard member f2. The overload clutch is provided between countershaft I l and the driving pulley I0, whichI have repre-- sented as including the clutch plate i4 carried on sleeve lc keyed to countershaft i l and establishing frictional connection with the driving face its of driven pulley H3. The clutch face I5 is provided on the opposite side Vof the face portion lith of pulley il! and establishes frictional contact with pressure plate l 3 carried by countershaft I I and pressure plate le. Pressure plate I8 is keyed to shaft il and continuously presses pressure plate l5 toward the face lb of pulley lil for ensuring a driving connection between pulley Ill and countershaft i l for all normal driving loads. However, upon increase in driving load, which may occur by sudden loads placed upon countershaft Il, the clutch parts slip, enabling driving shaft l to continue to revolve, While pulley Il] slips with respect to the countershaft I I.

The countershaft li carries a multiple wheel I9 on the opposite end thereof operatively engaged with sprocket chains 2li which engage over correspondingly aligned sprocket wheels 2i carried by the end of the rotary tiller shaft il. The sprocket chains 25! are protected bv the housing or guard 23 eliminating the possibility of external contact with the moving parts of the drive chain.

The rotary tiller shaft 22 is journaled at opposite ends in a pair of angularly shiftable spaced arms or levers 2li and 25 which are pivotally mounted with respect to countershaft il. as a center, and free to be angularly adjusted in position with respect thereto by the hydraulic lift mechanism represented at 2f`, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The rotary tiller shaft 22, thus being swingable in an orbit about countershaft II as a center, may be raised or lowered. with, respect to the surface of the ground, indicated generally at 2l. The rotary tiller shaft 22, intermediate the opposite ends thereof, is of polygonal cross section for the sourpose of keying the rotary tiller sections thereto. The rotary tiller sections are illustrated more clearly in Figs. 8-13, from which it will be seen that each rotary tiller section includes a tine plate section 2S of polygonal contour having a central hub portion 23 of tubular section with a contour corresponding to the section of the rotary tiller` shaft 22. The central hub portion 29 serves as a spacing member for each tiller section so that a multiplicity ofthe hub connected tine plates 28 be stacked adjacent each other on the rotary tiller shaft 22 for spacing the rotary tiller tools, carried by the tine plates 2&3, uniformly along the rotary tiller shaft. ln the form of my invention shown, the rotary tiller shaft 22 is of square section and each of the spacing hubs 29 is of similar square section and is thus keyed to revolve with the rotary tiller shaft 22.

The tine plates 2S carry rotary tiller tools of two differing forms represented at Si! in Fig, l2 and at 3l in Fig. 13. The rotary tiller teeth 3G are offset with respect to the rotary tiller teeth Si so that, by alternating the circumferential arrangement of the rotary tiller teeth, rotary tiller sections are built up with the rotary tiller teeth longitudinally spaced with respect to the rotary tiller shaft 22. In order to symmetrically balance each of the rotary tiller sections the rotary tiller teeth are mounted in groups on the tine plates with the tines of the different types mounted in diametrically opposite positions and diagonally disposed with respect to opposite sides of the plates. That is to say, in Fig. 9 the rotary tiller member 5S, of offset construction, is secured by bolts its to tine plate 23 in a radial position,

while an oppositely arranged tiller tool, represented by reference character 3i, is secured in diagonally opposite position on tine plate 28 by means of bolts 3 Ia.

Referring to Figs. 8, l@ and ll, it will be seen that this arrangement is successively carried out for each of the diametrically arranged sets of rotary tiller tools 3@ and SI. Referring to Fig. S. it will be seen that rotary tiller tool moving a clockwise direction, has adiacent thereto rotary tiller tool 3i, while, continuing in a clock- Wise direction, rotary tiller tool 3i has adjacent thereto a rotary tiller tool Correspondingly, continuing in a clockwise direction, rotary tiller tool Si? has a rotary tiller tool of the type repre sented by 3! adjacent thereto, and, followingA through the balance of the rotor system, in same clockwise direction, it will be seen that a tool of `the type 3%) is arranged adjacent to the tool 3|, and, likewise continuing in a clockwise direction, a tool of the type 3l follows the tool Si). Thus, symmetrically arranged and balanced, rotary tiller sections are formed by tine plates 23 and the series of rotary tiller tools and Si, which constitute tines with respect thereto. As represented in Figs. 6 and 7, these rotary tiller section assemblies are uniformly distributed throughout the whole length of the rotary shaft 22, so that, when positively driven over the ground, the tines cut up the ground, as represented particularly in Fig. 3, and mix the ground thoroughly the full length of the rotor.

The rotary tiller shaft 22, supported in the angularly movable arms Ed and 25, is angulariy adjusted with respect to the surface of the ground 2l' by means of a supporting roller member 52 carried by shaft 33 which is journaled at opposite ends on arms 3d pivotally mounted on the trans verse member 35 connected with chassis i. arms 34 are adjustably connected through l members i6 with the brackets 3l' extending from the laterally extending member 38 and extendu ing between arms 2 and 25. Links 35 have a plurality of adjusting apertures 5Go therein which permit adjustable connection to be made to brackets 37 for thereby regulating the spa-ciel distance between arms 2liand 25 and roller for correspondingly determining the depth penetration of the rotary tiller tools or tines and Si into the earth 2.

The hydraulic lift mechanism, referred to hereinbefore at 26, includes an operating cylinder into which the hydraulic huid is introduced under control of the control Valves, represented at 3S, in the operators position on chassis l. Piston member of the hydraulic lift mechanism connects to the lever arms il secured to the cylindrical sleeve l2 which extends over the housing di which encloses countershaft il. The sleeve i2 carries spaced lever arms l thereon which extend rearwardly substantially in the direction of the rotary tiller shaft 22. The ends of the arms have link chain members 55 which connect to the spaced bracket members Si carried by the laterally extending channel member 3S. Thus, a lifting force may be applied to the arms 2li and 2li which connect to the opposite ends of the laterally ei:- tending member t8 for raising or lowering the rotary tiller when it is desired to move the ma-I chine from one location to another.Y The raised position of the machine is illustrated in Fig. 4 as distinguished from the lowered position of the machine illustrated in Fig. 3.

The hood di, which extends over the rotary tiller, is specially related to the rotary tiller tools i or teeth -3-3I, enabling considerable churning and development of the earth while confining the area from which the earth is removed. The hood 4l extends the entire length of the rotary tiller shaft and substantially encloses the rotaryk tiller shaft and the tools or tines thereon. The hood 4l is reinforced longitudinally by ribsll for imparting sufficient rigidity to the. hood to withstand considerable strain. The rear cover ofthe hood is formedA by a plurality of f'ol'dable sections 41a and 4l?) connected through hinges 41d and-r 41e with the main structure of the hood lll'. This permits the sections of the hood to be raised for access to the rotor mechanism beneath the hood. Opposite ends of the hood are supported between arms 49 which are pivotally mounted at their ends on an axis passing through countershaft l I. The hood el may be shifted with respect to rotary tiller shaft 22 by reason of the slotted connection of the ends of the hood 41 with the rotary tiller shaft 22, as represented at Mc toallow for limited adjustment of the hood with respect to the rotary tiller shaft. This is accomplished by adjusting the screw member 5l! through crank 5l. Screw member 5t is screw threaded through screw threaded member 52 carried by arm 49 to provide an adjustable bearing against plate 53 carried by laterally extending member 38 to effect the required adjustment. It will be understood .that similar adjusting means are associated with each side of the assembly, as shown in the'symmetrical arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus, the elevation of the hood 41 with respect to the rotary tiller tools or tine plates Sil- 3| may be controlled within limits. All bearings on the equipment are of the roller type and large enough to assure long life. The machine is mounted on two wheels of -ample size to carry the load and the relationship of the wheels to the rotor is such that no tracks are left on the finished pulverized earth.

I have found the rotary tiller construction of my invention highly practical in manufacture, production and operation, and, while I have described one of the preferred embodiments of my invention, I realize that modifications may be made, and I intend no limitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. In a power driven tiller, a frame structure, a transverse drive shaft journaled in said frame structure, a sleeve member extending concentrically with respect to said shaft and carrying spaced levers thereon for supporting a rotary tiller at the extremities thereof driven from said drive shaft, means for rocking said sleeve niember for angularly adjusting said levers and correspondingly controlling the position of sai-l rotary tiller with respect to the surface of the earth, a hood forming a cover for said rotary tiller, a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on said drive shaft, connections between said arms and the ends of said hood, a bearing plate connected with each of said spaced levers, adjusting screws carried by said spaced arms and extending in vertical alignment with said vbearing plates and adjustable with respect thereto for selectively controlling the angular relation of said spaced arms with respect to said spaced levers and correspondingly controlling the spacial relation of said hood and said rotary tiller.

2. In a power driven tiller, a frame structure, a transverse drive shaft journaled in said frame structure, a sleeve member extending concentrically' with respect to said shaft and carrying spaced levers thereon for supporting a rotary tiller at the extremities thereof driven from said driveshaft, a channel shaped member extending between said spaced levers intermediate the rotary tiller and the connections of said spaced levers with said sleeve member, means for rocking said sleevev member for angularly adjusting said levers and correspondingly controlling the position of said rotary tiller with respect to the surface of the earth, a hood forming a cover for said rotary tiller, a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on said drive shaft, connections between said arms and the ends of said hood, bearing plates carried by said channel-shaped member in a position adjacent the vertical plane of operation of said levers, adjusting screws carried by said spaced arms and extending in vertical alignment with said bearing plates and adjustable with respect thereto for selectively controlling the angular relation of said spaced arms with respect to said spaced levers and correspondingly controlling the spacial relation of said hood and said rotary tiller.

3. In ya power driven tiller, a frame structure, a transverse drive shaft journaled in said frame structure, a sleeve member extending concentrically with respect to said shaft and carrying spaced levers thereon for supporting al rotary tiller at the extremities thereof driven from said drive shaft, a transverse member extending between said spaced levers intermediate the rotary tiller and the connections of said spaced levers with said sleeve member, means for rocking said sleeve member for angularly adjusting said levers and correspondingly controlling the position of said rotary tiller'with respect to the surface of the earth, a hood forming a cover for said rotary tiller, a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on said drive shaft, connections between said arms and the ends of said hood, bearing plates carried by said transverse member in a position adjacent the vertical plane of operation of said levers, adjusting screws carried by said spaced arms and extending in vertical alignment with said bearing plates and adjustable with respect thereto for selectively controlling the angular relation of said spaced arms with respect to said spaced levers and correspondingly controlling the spacial relation of said hood and said rotary tiller.

4. In a power driven tiller, a frame structure, a transverse drive shaft journaled in said frame structure, a sleeve member extending concentrically with respect to said shaft and carrying spaced levers thereon, said levers extending in a rearward and downward position for supporting a rotary tiller at the extremities thereof driven from said drive shaft, a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on said drive shaft and projecting rearwardly and downwardly in a plane substantially above the plane of said spaced levers whereby the planes of said ,pair of levers and said pair of arms intersect with said transverse drive shaft as a center and form a V-shalped section viewed from either side thereof, a hood forming a cover for said rotary tiller, connections between said pair of spaced arms and the ends of said hood, means for rocking said sleeve member for angularly adjusting said levers and correspondingly controlling the position of said rotary tiller with respect to the surface of the earth, and separate means for adjusting the spacial relation between said levers and said arms for increasing or decreasing the angle of said 7 V-shaped section, and correspondingly control- References Cited in the file of this patent rhllraCa/l relation 0f Said hood and Said P 5. in a power driven tiller as set forth in Numbe' Name Date OSCAR LA MEEKS 2,473,770 Seaman June 21, 1949 

